n attempt to list all the shows ever performed at our Hippodromes, beginning with the temporary circus buildings, which from 1884 were specially erected on Pool Meadow for each visit - then, in 1903, to the first permanent, but short-lived, 'Tin' Hippodrome on the Priory Street side of Pool Meadow facing the old Swimming Baths. The popularity of these shows created the demand for a theatre worthy of our city, and so in 1906 began the construction in Hales Street, next to Swanswell Gate, of what we now regard as the Old Hippodrome.
Again, the success of this theatre meant that barely three decades later a greater capacity was required, and so we come to our lovely art-deco New Hippodrome in Hales Street, once known as the Showplace of the Midlands. Opening on the 1st November 1937, it was renamed Coventry Theatre in 1955, then from 1979 became The Apollo, giving its final performance in June 1985. After a short spell as a bingo hall it was eventually realised that such a building could not be put to any practical use, so, sadly, it was demolished in 2002. If anyone still has any tickets or programmes and would like to see them used to illustrate a show, please contact me.
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1929 | Old Hippodrome, Hales Street | ||
Date(s) | Show | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|
Mon 7th Jan until Sat 12th Jan 1929 | Cinderella | Pantomime with a West End cast. | |
Mon 14th Jan until Sat 19th Jan 1929 | Dick Whittington and his Cat | Christmas pantomime. | |
Mon 21st Jan until Sat 26th Jan 1929 | They're Off | Musical with all-star cast, including Tommy Mostol, Ray Zach, and many others. | |
Mon 28th Jan until Sat 2nd Feb 1929 | The Police Force | Comedy revue, starring Joe Poynton and a large cast. | |
Mon 4th Feb until Sat 9th Feb 1929 | Sea Pie | Spectacular comedy, with Ken Douglas, Fiori and Chase, and many more. | |
Mon 11th Feb until Sat 16th Feb 1929 | Barbed Wire | Musical play by a company of seventy artistes, including a Full Guards Band. | |
Mon 18th Feb until Sat 23rd Feb 1929 | Light and Shade | All-star cast, including Dave Morris, Leon & Alys, and more. | |
Mon 25th Feb until Sat 2nd Mar 1929 | August 1914 | Novel and original revue, with Billy Percy and a large cast. | |
Mon 4th Mar until Sat 9th Mar 1929 | Sidelines | Comedy revue, featuring Jimmy James, and many others. | |
Mon 11th Mar until Sat 16th Mar 1929 | Mirth Control | Comedy revue, including Claude Lester, Rhys Thomas, and many others. | |
Mon 18th Mar until Sat 23rd Mar 1929 | It | Musical comedy revue, including Nor Kiddie, the Six Musical Namrons, Neudini, and more. | |
Mon 25th Mar until Sat 30th Mar 1929 | The Spice of Life | Musical burlesque, starring Fred Miller, Queenie May, Harry Shalson, and many more. | |
Mon 1st Apr until Sat 6th Apr 1929 | Contrasts | Starring Dan Sherry, Jim Sheery, Harry Sherry, the Sherina Sisters, and others. | |
Mon 8th Apr until Sat 13th Apr 1929 | Park Here | Revusical burlesque, starring Dan Raynor, Lauri Howard & Arthur Blossom, and more. | |
Mon 15th Apr until Sat 20th Apr 1929 | Seaside Frolics | Revue, featuring Freddie Westcott, De Haven and Page, and others. | |
Mon 22nd Apr until Sat 27th Apr 1929 | By Whose Hand? | London company play, including Miss Dorice Lawes, Ralph Richards, Ellis Holland, and many more. | |
Mon 29th Apr until Sat 4th May 1929 | Introduce Her | Featuring Bud Bennett, Fred Brand, and Anita Jeans. | |
Mon 6th May until Sat 11th May 1929 | The Calcutta Sweep | A racy musical burlesque, starring Sam Mayo & Mabel Marks. | |
Mon 13th May until Sat 18th May 1929 | The Bull's Eye | Casty includes Reg Bolton, Kitty Franklyn, and many others. | |
Mon 20th May until Sat 25th May 1929 | Pop In and see Mystery Manor | Comedy, starring Jimmy Jewel, Ona Marsh, and supporting company. | |
Mon 27th May until Sat 1st Jun 1929 | Come To The Show | Vaudeville musical comedy, including Harry Neil, and many more. | |
Mon 3rd Jun until Sat 8th Jun 1929 | Up's-A-Daisy | Comedy, with Billy Caryll and large cast. | |
Mon 10th Jun until Sat 15th Jun 1929 | Mumming Birds | Comedy with all-star cast, including Gordon Terry, Gandy's Comedy Circus, and much more. | |
Mon 17th Jun until Sat 22nd Jun 1929 | Right Away | Uo-to-the-minute revue, with Walter Niblo, and many more. | |
Mon 24th Jun until Sat 29th Jun 1929 | Four Harmony Kings | America's foremost quartette, plus The Great Como, Ken Kerry, and many more. | |
Mon 1st Jul until Sat 6th Jul 1929 | Swish! | Musical burlesque, with the Bros. Hanaway, Winnie Seaman, and many more. | |
Mon 8th Jul until Sat 13th Jul 1929 | One Of The Best | Comedy and song show, with Jimmy Britton, Lena Lloyd, and many others. | |
Mon 15th Jul until Sat 20th Jul 1929 | Hot Ice | West End revue, with Duggie Ascot, and full cast. | |
Mon 22nd Jul until Sat 27th Jul 1929 | Just A Minute | Musical burlesque, featuring Jack Clifford and many more. | |
Mon 29th Jul until Sat 3rd Aug 1929 | Robb Wilton | Variety show, including Victoria Carmen, Du-Callon, Arthur Astill, and many more. | |
Mon 5th Aug until Sat 10th Aug 1929 | Sun Yat Sen and Company | Holiday programme, with Horace Hunter & Lily Hammersley, and many others. | |
Mon 12th Aug until Sat 17th Aug 1929 | Something For Nothing | Novelty revue, featuring Jim Jessiman, George Glover, 10 O'Shea Girls, and others. | |
Mon 19th Aug until Sat 24th Aug 1929 | Mermaids | Comedy burlesque revue, with Jack Herbert, and many more. | |
Mon 26th Aug until Sat 31st Aug 1929 | Here's To You | Laughter show, with Bud Flanagan & Chesney Allen, and many others. | |
Mon 2nd Sep until Sat 7th Sep 1929 | The Veteran Stars Of Variety | Including Tom Costello, Miss Maggie Rimmer, Miss Florrie Robina, and many more. | |
Mon 9th Sep until Sat 14th Sep 1929 | Fired Fireman | Revue, starring Tubby Turner, Nell and Braddy Shaw, and many others. | |
Mon 16th Sep until Sat 21st Sep 1929 | Swanee River | Cast includes, Will Garland, Lee Golde, and others. | |
Mon 23rd Sep until Sat 28th Sep 1929 | Washing The Baby | With Costanza D'Silva, plus, Skeets Martin, Billy Lancet, and much more. | |
Mon 30th Sep until Sat 5th Oct 1929 | Full Speed | super speed show, with Bunny Doyle and an all-star cast. | |
Mon 7th Oct until Sat 12th Oct 1929 | Burlesques | Comedy revue, with Jack Mayo, Alec Weir, Morris and O'Dwyer, and many more. | |
Mon 14th Oct until Sat 19th Oct 1929 | One Dam Thing After Another | Revue, from the London Pavilion. | |
Mon 21st Oct until Sat 26th Oct 1929 | Sonny Boy | Spectacular revue, starring Jimmy Bryant, Lily Hartley, and many others. | |
Mon 28th Oct until Sat 2nd Nov 1929 | Gertie Gitana | Plus, Scotch Kelly, Joy Duan and Don Ross, Jenny Fordyce, and more. | |
Mon 4th Nov until Sat 9th Nov 1929 | Pleasure Chest | Revue, starring Joe Young, Jane Cooper, and a large cast. | |
Mon 11th Nov until Sat 16th Nov 1929 | The Welsh Miners Quartette | Plus, Carr Lynn, Terry's Famous Juveniles, Harry Gun, and many more. | |
Mon 18th Nov until Sat 23rd Nov 1929 | Business Is Business | Comedy, starring Scott & Whaley, and many more. | |
Mon 25th Nov until Sat 30th Nov 1929 | The Merry Whirl | Vaudeville, starring Alfredo and his Band. | |
Mon 2nd Dec until Sat 7th Dec 1929 | The Red Lamp | Musical comedy burlesque, with Wal Langtry, The Mauretania Band, and much more. | |
Mon 9th Dec until Sat 14th Dec 1929 | Fun Showers | 'A torrent of fun', starring Martin and Ruane, the Four Riotous Mackweys, and many others. | |
Mon 16th Dec until Sat 21st Dec 1929 | Parisian Pleasures | Novelty burlesque, including Tommy Mostol, Ray Zack, and many more. | |
Mon 23rd Dec until Sat 28th Dec 1929 | A Whirl Of Laughter | Comedy revue, with Phil Leno, Jack Smart, and many more. | |
Mon 30th Dec 1929 until Sat 4th Jan 1930 | Fred Roper and the Tiny Town Follies | World's wonder midgets. Plus, Bert Maddison, the Three Odellys, and many others. |
Prev year: 1928Showing 1929Next year: 1930
1884 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985
Also of interest might be A short history of Coventry's Theatres and Cinemas, by Bill Birch.
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